Engine in Matford Woodie

Woodie UK

Woodie UK

Member
Hi Barners,
Further to my recent post about what would be involved in swapping the 60hp V8 for a bigger 85hp V8 in the 1950 French Matford woodie I'm hoping to buy it looks like it would be easier to just rebuild the original motor.

However, doing research on the French motor it seems that Ford SAF built the small flathead as 2200c rather than the 2500cc version we had here in the UK.

So, does anybody out there in the great Barner universe know whether the parts are interchangeable ie would I have to get the block bored out to accept larger pistons or is the rod length (throw) different. Or would I have to seek out another engine or block??

In case anybody was wondering what the Matford looked like here's an image I received from the seller. The 1950 model is basically a carry over from the 1938 model, but built by Ford SAF in France.

Colin
 

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Looks like a nice little car to own. I would suggest attempting to rebuild the original engine first. Maybe try to find a little 22 hp (60hp) in good running condition to use as a donor engine to swap out the original engine while you find a way to rebuild it. Those little engines can be built to 100 hp if you want to spend the time and money to get there. Get a copy of Richard Willim's book, 'THE V8-60 Ford's Little Powerhouse'. That will give you lots of info on the 60hp engine and how to build it for maximum performance.

http://willimvintageengines.com/
 
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Did the Matford you the same engine as the French Ford Vedette?

Bob
 

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The Matford uses an essentially unaltered Ford V8-60. Ford of France did not do much to change the basic 60 and it was only after the sale of Ford of France to Simca in 1954 that lots of mods started to show up. This is the same engine that was in the Ford 62 in the UK. I am working with a 62 owner in the UK to help him obtain parts and I am sure that he would like to meet you. Please send me a PM and I will share his contact info. Greg
 
Yes I'm sure the French 60 is basically the same as the engine used in the UK and the US, except that info I found on Goodle says that the postwar engines had a smaller cubic capacity which has got me thinking. Guess I'll have to see just how tired the engine really is when i get to drive it...
Colin
PS will keep you posted if I find more lurking in France.....
 
I dug a little and turned up the specs for your Matford engine. Attached here, and in your email as well. Greg
 

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Looks like the French Ford Vedette is different than the English Ford.
The English one looks like the US 60hp.

Bob
 

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According to Greg's pictures, the Matford engine is exactly like the US 60 HP engines. There are rebuild parts for these engines available here in the states. Rich Willim may even be a good source. I see good used and NOS parts often advertised both here and on epay.
 
JM35, you are right. Until Ford sold out to Simca there were no significant changes in the engine. Even the last French Ford Vedettes, that looked like mini-'49s, used a basically unchanged 60 engine to the end. The Vedette engine pictured in a post above is a later, Simca, Vedette. The engine in the Matford woodie is almost indistinguishable from a 1940 60.
 
Hi woody UK , the french matford uses V8 60 engine but have differences with the Ford vedette . If you bought you car in the west of France ( near angers) The image is similar of a car that i know since a long time .
 
The production of the V8-60 engine for the Matford vehicles started in France in 1936. The first Matford cars used the imported from U.S, two exhaust port V8-60 engines.
I would be interested to know if the French produced V8-60 engines have Metric bolts and studs, or Imperial size same as the U.S. engines?
 
Ian, I have a French Ford Vedette and it has both metric and standard US threads.It seems that the things unique to the Vedette are metric such as the water pump bolts, the inspection plates on the side of the block, and the water inlet bolts.

Bob
 
Vedette V8-60 engine ID needed. Stamped on the block is:* 272273*R. Trying to find out what year and does the stamped "R" mean rebuilt? This engine does NOT have the removable two side water jacket plates. Thanks for any info, John
 
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